KENSINGTON PALACE

Historic Royal Palaces offer you Britain's top historic attractions.

Shops and guidebooks

The shop at Kensington Palace sells guidebooks and an excellent range of gifts, postcards and souvenirs.

Catering

The Orangery provides the perfect setting for morning coffee, cakes, light lunches and traditional afternoon teas. Groups should book in advance.

How to get there

By London Underground : Central Line to Queensway or Notting Hill Gate, or Circle/District Lines to High Street Kensington or Gloucester Road. By bus : Bayswater Road: 12, 94. Kensington Road: 9, 10, 33, 49, 52, 52A and C1.

Kensington Palace was once a favoured home of some of Britain's most famous kings and queens and the setting for many great events and dramas in royal history. Parts of the palace remain a private residence for members of the Royal Family; the State Apartments and Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are open to the public.

The State Apartments

The State Apartments at Kensington Palace reflect the tastes of the monarchs who lived there. Much of the original decoration still survives and many furnishings and works of art are displayed in the positions for which they were originally intended. There are several stunning examples of William Kent's work, including the magnificent Cupola Room where the young Princess Victoria (the future Queen Victoria) was christened, and the King's Grand Staircase where members of George I's court can be seen depicted on the walls.

Exterior

The south and east facades of Kensington Palace are aligned on Kensington Gardens. The South Front was built for William III in 1695 and became the main architectural feature of the palace. Internally, it provided the King with a new picture gallery (the King's Gallery). The tall central block on the East Front dates from 1718-21 and highlights the King's Drawing Room within. Statues of William III and Queen Victoria can be seen standing outside the south and east fronts of the palace.

The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection

The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Kensington Palace is a unique presentation of royal, court and ceremonial dress dating from the 18th century to the present day. The display includes a dressmaker's workroom, a tailor's shop, dressing rooms, a court occasion and a stunning collection of dresses belonging to Her Majesty The Queen.

The Orangery

The Orangery (known as the 'Greenhouse' in the late 18th and early 19th centuries), was built for Queen Anne in 1704-5 and was used during the winter months for housing plants, and in the summer for court entertainments. In 1718, for example, The Post Boy reported: 'Yesterday being the Anniversary of HM's Birth Day, the Court at Kensington wasmore numerous than hath been known for many Years: at night there was a Ball in the Green House.

The Sunken Garden

The Sunken Garden was laid out during the reign of Edward VII and opened in May 1909 on ground formerly occupied by forcing-houses and potting sheds. It was intended to demonstrate the formal type of garden that had existed at Kensington before it was landscaped in the 18th century, and was modelled on the 'Tudor Garden' at Hampton Court. The three lead fountains were formerly cisterns in the park.